Civic Education Matters
Too many young people are losing faith in our country.
Surrounded by political division, distrust, and polarization, too many young people are losing confidence and now view the United States as a “democracy in trouble.”
The best way to strengthen our democracy is to teach it.
Building young people’s faith in our country starts with teaching them how to participate in it—developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to effectively share their ideas with others and contribute to their communities.
When young people see they can shape our country, they believe in its future.
We must make civic education a nationwide priority, investing in relevant, meaningful, and engaging civic learning for each new generation. Civic education not only inspires a belief in our country, but also instills in youth a sense of belonging and a confidence to shape the world around them and work with others to solve problems together.
Investment Works!
We’ve seen the difference investment can make, as evidenced by annual federal level expenditures for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education averaging about $50 per K–12 public school student. By contrast, funding for civic education is roughly 50 cents per student per year.
Specifically, the CivxNow State Policy Menu calls for investment in the following areas:
- Civics Course Requirements
- Professional Development and Preservice Training
- State Standards
- Recognition of Student Excellence and Participation
- Information Literacy
- Assessment and Accountability
Students who experience high-quality civic education are more likely to:
Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, 2002
Sandra Day O’Connor
iCivics Founder and Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice
